Harcus Sinclair Found to Have Breached Solicitor’s Undertaking — Supreme Court Rules
In Harcus Sinclair LLP v Your Lawyers Ltd [2021] UKSC 32, the Supreme Court found that Damon Parker of Harcus Sinclair had signed a non-compete undertaking with Your Lawyers in VW diesel emissions litigation, then breached it by accepting his own claimant group instructions and sharing confidential information with Slater and Gordon. The ruling established that the non-compete was enforceable. Your Lawyers also reported Harcus Sinclair to the SRA. Sources Supreme Court: Harcus Sinclair LLP v Your Lawyers Ltd
ASA Bans Diesel Emissions Ad for Mimicking GOV.UK Website
Cambridge Corporate Consultants (trading as “The Claims Guide”) was sanctioned by the ASA for using imagery mimicking the GOV.UK website in its diesel emissions advertising. Consumers were misled into believing the service was endorsed by or associated with the UK Government. Sources Lexology: ASA bans diesel emission claims ad implying association with UK Government
SRA Launches Mandatory Compliance Declarations for 700+ High-Volume Claims Firms
The SRA has introduced mandatory compliance declarations for over 700 law firms handling high-volume consumer claims. This follows a thematic review of 129 firms managing more than 2.4 million claims, which found widespread failures: only 11 of 25 visited firms could demonstrate sharing required client care information, only 12 had shared costs information, and there were systemic failures in client identification and sanctions screening. At least 95 investigations into 76 firms are now open. Sources SRA acts on concerns about law firm practices on high-volume claims Law Gazette: High-volume claims outfits must declare they understand the rules
